Maltese entrepreneur Nikki Camilleri, Founder of consultancy firm Mana, has made it on the reputable Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.

The annual list, produced by American business publication Forbes, highlights the work that 30 entrepreneurs based in Europe do, with the honourees for the list all being under the age of 30. They are split into different categories of industries, namely media and marketing, retail and ecommerce, science and healthcare, social impact, entertainment, art and culture, technology, sports and games, finance, as well as manufacturing and industry.

28-year-old Ms Camilleri, who featured in the entertainment category, founded Mana, a consultancy firm for underrepresented artists, in 2018. She focuses on project development and helping creators build successful careers in the media, including helping their secure their first distribution and record deals.

Reacting to the news on LinkedIn, Ms Camilleri said that she is honoured to have been featured in the list alongside other talented individuals.

“Thank you everyone who has ever trusted me to work with them and on their projects. Helping artists is all I’ve ever wanted to do and all I’ll keep trying to do for as long as I’m able,” she remarked.

“I’ve had doubts and really questioned what I was doing, I still do. But what has always brought me back is seeing any impact I’ve made for the arts, however small it is. Especially in a time when the arts are under increased pressure with reduced funding,” she affirmed.

Ms Camilleri added that making the list is “not the be all and end all” of her life, yet she said that taking a moment to celebrate these moments of recognition is important in one’s career.

She has more than a decade of experience in the music and entertainment industries, having worked with established names such as DJ David Guetta and singer Cat Burns.

Prior to founding Mana, Ms Camilleri held a number of positions within the entertainment industry, including Entertainment Account Director at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment London, Head of Music & Media at Beatchain, and also Head of Artist Relations at Rehegoo Music Group, among others.

She has lived in London since 2014, having achieved Microsoft Social Enterprise of the Year and HSBC Company of the Year through the Junior Achievement Young Enterprise (now JA Malta) for Xzibit Malta Artist Agency. These accolades, together with recognition from the President of Malta, and news websites led to her making the decision to switch Malta for London.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from BIMM University, as well as a Master of Science in Creative Entrepreneurship from Falmouth University. Ms Camilleri is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a United Nations Women Delegate 2024, and supports and mentors independent artists. Additionally, she is a Visiting Lecturer at London College of Music, City University, and London College of Contemporary Music.